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Sunday, 17 April 2016

Day 9 - Dong Hoi to Dong Ha

After our first, and only
night by the sea (for those of us like Hoa who went for a dip at the beach), it
was time to head off. H2H 2016 made a few innovations this year, staying at the
Son Song Hotel, right in the heart of downtown Dong Hoi, meant that we could
start our warm up outside the city's old gate, backlit by a beautiful
sunrise.

We all headed out of Dong
Hoi crocodile fashion, and quickly crossed Highway 1 and soon made our way
back to the HCM Highway. We all agreed that today’s ride, with its undulating
terrain, excellent road conditions and fewer scenic distractions than previous
days, meant for a fantastic ‘cyclist’s’ ride. We made excellent time and our
first rest stop (at 30km) was just an hour into the day. At this rate we would
be in Dong Ha by lunch, or so we thought.

At the 57km mark we made a
short detour to the Truong Son War Cemetery, which was a very tranquil spot for
reflection and to contemplate the human cost of war with the hundreds of
graves, many to unknown soldiers, and to some poignant sculptures.

Across from the Cemetery
was our lunch spot, with a balcony and views over the countryside and fellow
diners from across the country, who’d travelled far and wide to visit the
Cemetery.

After lunch, it was time for some long uphills, and even longer
downhills, into Cam Lo, last year’s overnight stop. But this year, team 2016,
thought we would ‘discover’ what Quang Tri’s provincial capital had to offer,
now that Damo had secured us a very swanky hotel (Team 2017 – check out the
Golden Hotel).

After a brief search, we eventually found a German Beer House which
served up a wide array of foods for all, including pasta, pizza, chips, even
salad, as well as, of course, a pretty wide array of German beers. Hell, we
even had ice cream to finish. The perfect way to end a relatively easy day.

What H2H Is

H2H - Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City - is a charity bicycle ride that first took place in 2009. It is organized by volunteers and the funds raised go towards Vietnamese organizations that work with poor and disadvantaged children. The ride lasts for a month, and takes place every April. If you'd like to learn more, contact h2h.ride@gmail.com.